Category : Our Team

Women’s Month: Eileen Dash

No Comment Jul 30,2025 Our Team

In celebration of Women’s Month in August, we are honouring four of our amazing female staff members.

At Rovos Rail, the luxury train experience is crafted not just by the vintage carriages and five-star service, but by passionate people who pour heart and history into every journey. One such person is Eileen Dash, a dynamic force behind-the-scenes, currently serving as hardware store manager. With 25 years at Rovos Rail, Eileen’s journey is a story of resilience, adaptability, and some unexpected adventures.

Eileen’s career began high above the clouds. As a former cabin crew member for South African Airways, she spent a decade navigating local and international skies. When this aviation chapter started to close a conversation with a director led her to an up-and-coming train company in Pretoria. That company? Rovos Rail. “The rest,” Eileen laughs, “is history.”

Eileen’s path at Rovos Rail has been anything but linear. Starting out as part of the train crew, she worked across housekeeping, dining service, bar service, and eventually served as deputy manager before leaving temporarily to manage safari lodges and camps across southern Africa. Since returning in 2005, she’s taken on a more grounded role: hardware store manager. Here, she oversees everything from stock control for coach building, to cost management, supplier liaison, and logistics across a sprawling, ever-active site. “No two days are alike – Wednesday and Friday the site comes alive with the trains coming and going so it’s all hands-on deck,” she says.

Over the years, Eileen has completed a range of training, including business management, leadership, fire marshal, and SAGE systems, but she insists that the most valuable skills – agility, creativity, and problem-solving – were forged on the job. “Adaptability is a must here,” she explains. “There’s always a challenge to solve, a curveball to catch.”

She recalls one such memorable challenge: when Rovos Rail acquired the Shongololo Express, her team was given just a month to redo all plumbing and cabinetry. “I’ve never bought that many galvanized pipes and fittings in my life,” she laughs. “There was shouting, eye-rolling, and then… beers and laughter when the completed train finally pulled out and we could come together and appreciate the success of our efforts.”

Her most “mind-blowing” experience goes back to the 90s when a Russian client on a charter trip wanted caviar, salmon and vodka from his homeland. Needless to say, Rovos Rail made it happen – a few days later a chopper drop was made at a nearby field and the products arrived on the train to much laughter. A demonstration of how determined and agile the company is particularly when it comes to client delivery.

Eileen’s role has not only been about problem-solving – it’s also been deeply personal. One project holds a special place in her heart: the acquisition of dining coach 5274, affectionately known as “Rust Bucket.” Originally part of a conservation project, the coach was secured thanks in part to Eileen’s long-standing relationship with a former colleague in conservation. Today, the lovingly preserved oak pillars and panels stand as a tribute to that personal and professional bridge. “I still smile warmly whenever I walk through that coach,” she says.

Eileen explains that “Rovos Rail being a family-run business creates a very personal and proud sense of involvement to all that work here”.

Eileen’s favourite Rovos Rail destination is Cape Town, due to the Matjiesfontein walks, tunnels and valleys, as well as the Karoo night skies. “The brightest stars ever, once we stopped the train so guests could watch a meteor shower,” she recalls.

When she’s not managing hardware or overseeing her various onsite projects, Eileen enjoys spending time with her mother, tinkering at home, and reflecting on a life well-travelled. Her past hobbies include backyard beekeeping, family tree research, jogging, cycling and gardening.

Eileen is inspired by community and conservation initiatives – the latter being a longtime passion encouraged by her near-completion of a Nature Conservation Diploma. “I once dreamed of being an Eco Warrior,” she says with a smile, “and in some ways, maybe I still am.”

Peacemaker. Intuitive. Carer. That’s how Eileen describes herself – and that spirit echoes in everything she does at Rovos Rail. Whether she’s coordinating plumbing parts, immersing herself in paperwork, or guiding a team through a high-pressure refit, Eileen’s story is proof that the journey is always shaped by the people who walk it together.

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes stories from the people who make Rovos Rail a world-class luxury experience on rails.

Written by Linda Sparks

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Women’s Month: Heike Gerntholtz

No Comment Jul 29,2025 Our Team

In celebration of Women’s Month in August, we are honouring four of our amazing female staff members.

Nestled in the heart of Cape Town’s travel scene is a woman whose journey with one of the world’s most luxurious trains began not on board, but behind a travel agent’s desk in Germany. Meet Heike Gerntholtz – passionate marketer, storyteller, and lifelong ambassador for Rovos Rail.

“I was the youngest, and probably the most clueless, at the agency,” she laughs, recalling the day a man walked in asking to “travel Africa by train.” Her colleagues, noting her African roots, nudged him in her direction. That single interaction sparked what would become the agency’s most legendary booking – four tickets aboard Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, with a Kenyan safari to follow.

The train was a mystery to Heike at the time. She had only heard of the Blue Train. But when those clients returned raving about their cross-continental journey – and the personal call they received from Rovos founder Rohan Vos – Heike was captivated. So much so that when she returned to South Africa as a 20-year-old, she didn’t buy a ticket, she applied for a job!

That was in 1997, and what began with two months on the train as a “rooming girl” soon evolved into a long-standing career, with a short stint in reservations and then in marketing and sales, today focusing on German-speaking Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Nordics.

“I love the product – the train, the journey, the people,” she says. “But what’s kept me here are the souls behind it. Some colleagues I’ve worked with for over 27 years. And I have a huge respect for Rohan.”

“I’m also grateful for the flexibility and the fact that I can work fairly independently in our Cape Town satellite office.”

Her love for Rovos Rail extends far beyond the office. One route in particular – Cape Town to Dar es Salaam – holds her heart. She’s done the trip three times: twice as a hostess and once as a guest with her children and parents for their 50th anniversary. The memories? Unforgettable.

“That journey showcases Africa in its rawest, most beautiful form,” she reflects. “It’s incredible, sometimes heartbreaking, but always profound. It makes you feel proud – and alive.”

While Heike’s days are now filled with emails, travel expos, and liaising with agents, she still finds time to roam the wild places of Africa. When not in the office, you’ll find her on a hiking trail in the Karoo or exploring parts of the continent she hasn’t yet discovered.

She calls herself “stubborn, positive, and straight-forward” – traits that have helped her carve a unique space within the travel industry. She speaks fluent German, though she’s quick to point out, with a grin, that she’s not actually German.

“I’ve grown with this company,” she says. “One of my proudest moments was realizing – ten years in – that I could make decisions confidently, even without Rohan around. That shift in mindset changed everything.”

Her goals for the future are simple: find more balance, travel more, and maybe – just maybe – cut back on those dangerously addictive Root Stock chips in the office.

Heike counts herself lucky every day – she does what she loves, works because she can, not because she has to, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Written by Linda Sparks

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Teddy Tales: Our Pioneer Bear’s Next Adventure

No Comment Jul 2,2025 Guests, Journeys, Our Team

Back in August 2023, we shared the heartwarming story behind the Rovos Rail teddy bears – a tale filled with creativity, craftsmanship, and a whole lot of love. For many years, these charming bears have been handmade with care, each with its own personality and miniature accessories, from safari jackets to tiny binoculars.

At the heart of the story is Sonja Peters of HiBearNation, who along with her husband Bjorn, has carried on this beloved tradition since 2016, following in the pawprints of original creator Bev Duncan.

Since our last post, we’ve heard many wonderful stories from guests about where their Rovos bears have travelled. But one letter stood out to us – about the very first Rovos Rail bear ever sold.

Pioneer Bear

Clare Delaney-Young and Will Young bought their bear on their first Rovos journey years ago. Since then, our “Pioneer Bear” has had pride of place in the living rooms of their various homes, initially in Johannesburg and now in Mauritius, as a treasured member of the family.

He’s joined them on adventures around the globe, from chasing solar eclipses in Zambia, Turkey, and China to a canal cruise in France. He’s even returned to Rovos Rail, revisiting the magic of luxury train travel.

While a playful puppy once chewed up his original tag during a wash, there is photographic evidence of him still wearing the tag confirming his proud legacy as Rovos teddy bear number one.

“He sends his warm regards to all the other Rovos Bears,” Clare wrote in her letter – a reminder that these bears are more than souvenirs, they are memory keepers.

Meanwhile, Sonja and Bjorn have been hard at work over the past few months, crafting a beautiful new collection of Rovos Rail teddy bears. This limited edition features just twenty bears in three delightful ranges: Engineer Bear, Safari Bear, and Traveller Bear. Each teddy is individually handmade with exquisite attention to detail and comes with unique accessories to set them apart.

  • Teddy Bear Conductor
  • Teddy Bear Camera
  • Teddy Bear 2 Conductors

They are lovingly handmade using luxurious Schulte mohair, black glass eyes, black embroidered noses, and suede paw pads beautifully embroidered by Luisa Maria Dingley. True to tradition, every bear is fully jointed, allowing its arms, legs, and head to move. And of course, each one comes with its own unique accessories, making them truly one-of-a-kind.

As we prepare to launch our newest additions, including the much-anticipated Coal Stoker Bear, we are reminded of how much joy these little companions bring. Whether it’s the very first bear or a brand-new bear snug in a hemp drawstring bag bearing the Rovos crest, each one carries with it a spirit of adventure and timeless charm.

So, where are the Rovos bears now? Some are living in Mauritius, some are tucked into suitcases exploring the world, and some are still right here riding the rails with us.

Do you have a Rovos bear story? We’d love to hear where your bear has travelled. Drop us a message, tag us on online, or send us a photo, we would love to hear from you.

The Rovos limited-edition teddy bears are available for sale to guests, in either the train gift shop or at the Rovos Rail Station.

Written by Linda Sparks

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Women’s Month: Belinda Rakoma

No Comment Aug 30,2024 Guests, Journeys, Our Team, Victoria Falls

Belinda Rakoma is one of Rovos Rail’s unsung heroes working behind the scenes for 31 years! From humble beginnings as a casual cleaner at Pretoria Train Station in 1993, her journey with Rovos has carried her to the current position of Store Supervisor, a testament to her ambition.

Belinda’s primary responsibility is to prepare the beverage stock for all trips. Every Monday, she checks the schedule to determine the number of journeys, how many carriages are on each one and how many passengers are travelling. She also accounts for the menus, special requests and the guests’ nationalities because, for example, Germans often consume more beer. She is proud of this attention to detail.

Belinda and her strong team load a full bar onto each train for every trip. The carefully curated selection of local and international beverages – with a proud focus on South African offerings – includes wine, brandy, gin, rum, vodka, whisky, spirits, digestifs, grappa, liqueur, beer, cider, non-alcoholic options, mixers and a cocktail menu. Rovos Rail maintains its commitment to sustainability by sourcing water from Cape Town using plant-based bottles. All beverages on board are included while special requests may be ordered at an additional cost.

Belinda’s time with Rovos has not only taught her practical skills such as mixing drinks and understanding wines, she credits the company with invaluable lessons in communication and teamwork. She believes in letting go of grudges, avoiding gossip and communicating honestly, which is reflected in her grounded approach.

The highlights of her job extend beyond the bar from her first trip outside South Africa to the experiences of meeting new people and exploring new places. Her favourite Rovos destination is Victoria Falls.

Belinda lives in Soshanguve but her heritage is Eswatini where her mother was born, and Lesotho, her father’s origins. She enjoys cooking, walking and spring cleaning but her priorities lie with her three children and three grandchildren. Her goal is to ensure they all receive a quality education and can take care of themselves.

In Belinda Rakoma, Rovos Rail has a dedicated team player. Her passion, attention to detail and commitment to customer service are qualities that contribute to the company’s mission to provide luxury train travel.

So, the next time you’re on board, raise a glass to the hard work and dedication of Belinda and her team.

Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch

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Women’s Month: Mariëlle Wynbergen

No Comment Aug 23,2024 Guests, Journeys, Namibia Safari, Our Team

For nearly three decades, Mariëlle Wynbergen has been an integral part of the Rovos Rail family serving as the Reservations Manager for short trips. She has seen the company grow and adapt to many challenges and has learned invaluable lessons about the importance of caring for her team and embracing change.

She is inspired by the owner and founder Rohan Vos who she describes as being full of new ideas and constantly wanting to improve the guest experience. Mariëlle believes that a company’s success is deeply intertwined with the well-being and dedication of its staff, and the fact that so many employees can boast decades of service indicates that they must be getting this right. 

Her journey with Rovos began soon after she fell in love with a ballroom dancing teacher who had family members working at the company. “My father-in-law, Oom Wyny, was the CFO for the Victoria Hotel, and my brother-in-law and his partner were the first IT employees who installed our first computers and also wrote the first reservations programme for Rovos.” After a tip-off that there was a job available, she followed their footsteps and was appointed PA to the Reservations Manager who became her mentor. She quickly learned the ropes and found her calling in promoting and selling the train.

Mariëlle’s daily routine involves a variety of tasks from answering booking enquiries and product-interest phone calls to confirming bookings, invoicing and following up on payments. She fields many interesting and sometimes humorous questions from future guests. As she aptly puts it, her job is about “putting bums in beds” – a phrase coined by one of her previous colleagues. 

Beyond the administrative tasks, Mariëlle Wynbergen takes pride in guiding and training her reservations team in the Pretoria and Cape Town offices and instilling in them the passion and dedication that is synonymous with Rovos Rail. She enjoys her job, the camaraderie among her colleagues, the interaction with guests from around the world, and the privilege of being part of an extraordinary story.

Many staff have said they could write a book about all their experiences and the interesting people they have met, and Mariëlle concurs. Two guests stand out in her memory…a couple who travel the world without luggage! Their PA packed their brand-new clothes into the cupboard on the train and, when they arrived in Cape Town, the clothes were donated. “Despite their privilege, they were one of the nicest, most unassuming and down-to-earth couples I have ever met!”

Outside of work, Mariëlle’s priorities lie with her home and her family, especially her two teenagers, her husband, and caring for her mother. She feels the words patience, consideration and compliance define her personally and professionally and shape her relationships and her approach to life. 

As Mariëlle Wynbergen looks to the future, she hopes to continue contributing her skills and knowledge while learning from the remarkable individuals she has had the privilege to work alongside. “When it’s my time to leave Rovos I hope to have been as generous as Sandy Ingram, as charming as Peter Winterbottom, as vivacious as Beatrice Colon, as kind as Christine Roberts, as knowledgeable as Joy Strydom, as confident as Estee Badenhorst, as funny as Daniela Greyling, as determined as Rohan Vos and of course will always attempt to be a workhorse like Heike Gerntholtz,” she laughs. 

Mariëlle’s dedication and commitment embody the spirit of Rovos Rail – a special company that enriches the experiences of guests and colleagues alike. 

Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch

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Women’s Month: Dianah Vukeya

No Comment Aug 13,2024 Dar es Salaam, Guests, Journeys, Our Team

For nearly three decades Dianah Vukeya has been a committed member of the Rovos Rail family. As the Senior Laundry Assistant, she has become an expert in maintaining the impeccable standards of the train.

The three suite categories on board each have their own bed size and linen requirements including everything from robes and slippers to pillowcases and towels. The public cars include tablecloths, napkins, antimacassars and even curtains, which are made by the onsite upholstery team. Dianah is part of an 18-member team responsible for washing, steaming, ironing, pressing, folding and preparing all laundry for each journey. Her daily routine involves checking the schedule and rooming lists for upcoming journeys and guests’ requirements to ensure all stock items are available. A 15-night Dar es Salaam journey can have about 2000 items, for example. Dianah and the team methodically count and pack every item into large laundry bags for each suite and public car to maximise the limited space on board. And when the train returns, they count it all back into stock to repeat the process.

Dianah first encountered Rovos Rail when she was a clothing vendor at Pretoria Train Station. She joined the company as a passage lady and hostess on board, no mean feat when a train can be ±350m long. She held for 12 years before joining the laundry team on site. Her favourite Rovos destination was Dar es Salaam as it marked her first trip outside South Africa. Another highlight was Victoria Falls made even more memorable by her bravely taking the plunge with a bungee jump off the iconic bridge! 

When asked what she loves most about her job, Dianah responded with: “Everything!” She is proud of the invaluable skills she has learned during her time with Rovos and describes it as a journey of personal and professional growth. These include learning to work with a diverse range of people, respecting others, transparency and teamwork. She has also learned skills in hospitality and healthcare and has completed courses in First Aid, Firefighting and Empathy Training.

Home for Dianah is Midrand where she enjoys spending time with her large family, which includes her husband, five children and four grandchildren. She enjoys cooking for her family, taking them to church and spring cleaning! She describes herself as strong, brave, kind, respectful, hard-working and proactive – qualities that shine through in her work and interactions with coworkers and guests. Dianah’s dedication to her work is inspiring and she is a much-valued member of the team.

Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch

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Women’s Month: Karin Whitaker

No Comment Jul 29,2024 Guests, Journeys, Namibia Safari, Our Team

In the heart of Rovos Rail’s bustling operations, a stalwart figure has been present in the Accounts department for nearly three decades. Karin Whitaker fulfils the role of debt controller responsible for managing and allocating outstanding payments and addressing queries regarding the financial side of train bookings. It is a post she’s grown into over the years and one that she has become extremely skilled at through hands-on experience. “You learn as you go,” she quips with a knowing smile.

Karin’s association with Rovos Rail dates back to a chance opportunity in 1995 when she heard from a friend that the company needed extra staff to work as train hosts over the New Year’s weekend. Little did she know that weekend stint would evolve into a lifelong career spanning various positions within Rovos Rail, including front office manager and eventually finding her niche in finance.

Despite the demands of her job, Karin approaches it with a light-hearted spirit. “Asking people for money is my favourite part,” she jests. Beneath the humour, it is clear that Karin is passionate about Rovos and that it’s rewarding for her to play a role in helping the company thrive financially. “It is an honour to be a part of Rovos’ history seeing the company grow from just one train and 17 coaches when I began to six trains and 140 coaches today.”

A job with Rovos is always full of surprises, and Karin has had many memorable moments. “So many,” she laughs, “I think most of us could draft a book!” One of these saw the entire team on a comical chase down the train tracks at Capital Park wrangling Betty the ostrich back into the yard after she had escaped.

Beyond the numbers, Karin’s time at Rovos has been a journey of personal growth. Interacting with colleagues and passengers from diverse cultural backgrounds has instilled in her a deep sense of compassion and understanding. “Kindness and a smile can have an enormous impact on others,” she reflects. Close bonds have been formed with her colleagues over the years and they all have a deep fondness for Karin. “We really are family,” she explains, “and we have had so much fun together along the way.”

Of all the destinations Karin has travelled to during her time with Rovos, Namibia holds a special place in her heart for its breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty.

Karin is a devoted animal lover, volunteering at rescue groups and dedicating time to reuniting lost pets with their owners. At work, she watches over the resident animals, most of which are rescues: donkeys Romeo and Juliet, Tori the horse and the Nguni cattle, Camilla and Mia Bella as well as the late ostriches and alpacas. At home, she enjoys her own furry companions, a large collection of black cats. Another interesting tidbit is that Karin has an identical twin and boasts of being five minutes older than her sister!

Confident, strong and independent: Karin’s three-word self-portrait that aptly describes her character and approach to life. She takes pride in her ability to adapt to change, a skill that has served her well in the often unpredictable South African railway industry. As for her future, she simply aspires to find happiness in all facets of life.

With her dedication to her job and her vibrant personality, it is clear that Karin’s contribution is integral in keeping Rovos Rail on track. And her almost 30-year journey with the company is a testament to Rovos’ commitment to fostering long-term relationships with its team.

Written by Linda Sparks • Edited by Bianca Vos-Lynch

  • Karin Whitaker
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Rovos Rail Bar Staff

A toast to our bartenders

2 Comments May 24,2024 Bar, Guests, Journeys, Our Team, Wine List

All hail International Wine Day! In his departure speech, our CEO Rohan often jokes about how seriously we take drinking here at Rovos Rail so we thought we’d pour ourselves a glass of bubbly and tell you a little about the bar staff on board and how they can often be the toast of the train.

Operating a luxury product can come with some tough customers so, as we are not positioned to employ qualified sommeliers, we provide regular bar, wine and cocktail training for our bartenders and ensure they know about our incredible South African offerings. The two-year pandemic gave us pause to revisit our menus and include more local produce wherever possible. In the last decade, it has been wonderful to see young entrepreneurs creating interesting wines, spirits and mixers and, with South Africa being one of the top 10 traditional wine-producing countries in the world, we have a brilliant selection to choose from. See our wine and spirit stories below.

Preparation for each journey begins in our beverage store where a dedicated on-site team pre-packs the stock required on board. This includes wine, brandy, gin, rum, vodka, whisky, spirits, digestifs, grappa, liqueur, beer, cider, non-alcoholic options and mixers. The bartenders check, count and load the stock into cages, which are trolleyed to the train. Then it’s off to the kitchen store where they check out their glassware, swizzle sticks, olives, Maraschino cherries and all the other goodies they need, which are also trolleyed to the train. Once on board, they unload and pack the bars to their liking as it is their domain for the duration of the journey. When the guests arrive, the fun begins.

Out of our whole crew, the bartenders are the most recognised and sought after as they not only serve all the guests but sit up late into the night chatting away with them. They sometimes make long-lasting connections, especially on our long journeys. We’re fortunate that we haven’t had too many raucous parties but there have been many dawns met with strong coffees and Bloody Marys at breakfast.

Our teams work hard and deserve the lovely feedback they regularly receive about their service. During one of our recent video shoots, Tristan – one of our young barmen – happened to be available so we followed him around for a while. Listening to him talk about his passion for South African wine and our selection on board left an impression on us. To see a young man so eager to learn and do his job well, and leverage the education and opportunities received at Rovos Rail, feels hugely rewarding.

So, as it is International Wine Day – and our 35th birthday – let’s raise a glass to our stellar team and all the sommeliers, connoisseurs and winemakers around the world. Cheers!

Stories: Floral Rum, Rum, Vodka, Meerlust, Thelema, Hamilton Russell, Vagabond, Mr Bubbles, Silverthorn, Fable Mountain.

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Happy birthday, Rovos Rail!

1 Comment Apr 29,2024 Guests, Journeys, Our Team, Station
happy birthday rovos rail
Image by freelance writer, Andrew Thompson

Another clickety-clack around the sun! We can hardly believe it. Happy birthday, Rovos Rail! 35 years. What an achievement.

Some of you are familiar with our story but, for those who aren’t, we’re a small family-owned and operated business that launched our first overnight journey on 29 April 1989. When we celebrated our 30th birthday in 2019, we produced a short film where you will meet the family and team members who narrate the Rovos Rail tale and now, five years later, we have so much to add to our story.

Since resuming our services post-pandemic, we introduced the new 15-night African Trilogy journey. We have now operated this trip four times and on the last sojourn we sent a film crew to capture its magic (click here). We’re proud of this adventure because we feel the African Trilogy shows our guests a true cross-section of Southern Africa from its east coast to Namibia in the west.

We also sent trains all the way to Angola and back on our Trail of Two Oceans and Copper Trail trips. And wow, what a challenge these journeys are to operate given that water, electricity and any kind of formal tourism are in short supply. But we succeeded and our brave band of intrepid travellers had a good time, which is all that matters.

Unfortunately some of you reading this would have experienced delays and other obstacles due to infrastructure failures within South Africa. Transnet (national railway authority) and Eskom (national electricity provider) are in a bind, which has presented problems for all trains on the railway network. To combat these issues, our formidable CEO, Rohan, and his problem-solving COO daughter, Tiffany, treated the company to its biggest birthday presents ever by purchasing combination electric and diesel locomotives. Should there be power outages or other challenges, we can seamlessly switch from electric to diesel for the journey to continue. This has not been an inexpensive endeavour and the business of hauling our trains with our own locomotives is not something we ever wanted but, with South Africa currently navigating significant crises, we figure the less reliant we are on parastatals the better it will be for our passengers and our team.

Rohan and Anthea Vos with Rohan’s late mother, Marjorie, and Brenda, Bianca, Shaun and Tiffany.

Since we last celebrated a significant milestone, we have said farewell to long-serving staff who either moved on or retired. We have also welcomed many new members to our team who took up key positions in human resources, sales, marketing, reservations, finance and in our workshops. We had to rebuild our staff complement after the pandemic and it finally feels like we once again have a robust team in place.

Over the past five years, our incredible workshop team has built two new train sets in between renovating and repairing existing stock, so we now have six full train sets! There have been some moments over the past few years where our yard at Rovos Rail Station has been empty of carriages because they have all been out on various journeys; these moments have felt rewarding and certainly made us feel proud.

We remember back in 1988 when we first put the word out that we were launching a vintage luxury train in South Africa, many people thought Rohan was crazy and didn’t believe he would succeed. We don’t blame them; sometimes we feel the same but, here we are, 35 years on, and we have Rohan and his wife, Anthea, to thank. Working at Rovos Rail is a wild ride with no day ever the same. To not be bored or feel stuck on a hamster wheel is a gift and, although the stress can feel overwhelming at times, there is never a dull moment and for that we are grateful. We are a quirky and eclectic bunch who care deeply about Rovos Rail and who genuinely love our beautiful trains!

A heartfelt thank you to our industry colleagues and the media who have supported us over the years. And to our guests, especially our Rovos Club members, we would not be here without you and it is our privilege to have welcomed you on board. Thank you for travelling with us.

Congratulations to Rohan, Anthea, Tiffany and the rest of the family and a very big happy birthday to Rovos Rail!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_4lEEue8Eo
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Happy birthday, Rohan!

4 Comments Mar 5,2024 Journeys, Our Team, Station

From all of us we say, happy birthday Rohan! To his grandchildren he is “Papa Choo Choo”, to his children he is Dad or Pops and to his team, he is Rohan. And today marks another gallop around the sun for this determined young man.

For as long as any of us can remember, Rohan has never been in South Africa to celebrate because for the past three decades he has always travelled to Berlin to attend the ITB travel trade show which falls over his birthday. And this year is no different as he flew to Germany a few nights ago and is deeply entrenched in his Rovos Rail sales hustle!

There have been a few guests in the past who have been curious about the man who dared launch a vintage luxury train in a time where political restlessness was reaching its inevitable boiling point. With South Africa’s post-apartheid era on the horizon, there were many who packed their bags for Perth and those who loudly predicted outright civil war. So who would start a luxury train company during a time of so much uncertainty and especially a business whose success would, for the most part, be heavily reliant on international travellers?

We’re not sure that Rohan’s late mother, Marjorie, knew what she was in for when she birthed a lanky, big-eared babe on 7 March. We remember anecdotal tales of him entering the world with ferocity on his face which, 78 years later, is still very much there. Even at a young age, Marjorie knew that being a solo act would be the only option for her extremely intelligent, can-do young man. Given that he never appreciated being told that he couldn’t do something, there was certainly anxiety over how he would fare at school.

Born in Cape Town in 1946, Rohan attended Western Province Preparatory School before completing senior school at Bishops Diocesan College where one or two of Rohan’s teachers identified his genius but also recognised that if his restless energy wasn’t correctly channeled he might fail high school or pursue naughtier adventures (which he already had plenty of). So in his senior year he was made captain of the first rugby team and head of his boarding house leaving him no option but to focus, lead and thrive.

Rohan began his professional career selling encyclopedia’s and also opened the doors to a discotheque in Witbank (situated in the former Transvaal) called Zorba’s Beat. Being interested in classic cars, boats, trains and planes, he started Witbank Auto Spares and also dabbled in commercial property ownership. His triumphs in Witbank lead him to a railway auction where he was the successful bidder on an old South African Railways coach. His intention was to renovate the carriage that could hook onto a regular commuter train so that he and his family had a “railway caravan” to explore South Africa. His application to the Railways was denied and it was suggested that he sell tickets and create a commercial venture.

Over a double Red Heart rum and Coke one evening in May in 1988, Rohan pondered his options and decided to take the risk of launching a vintage luxury train experience in South Africa. He and his wife, Anthea, travelled the country acquiring a train set and locomotive and the first overnight journey was launched in April, 1989. Fast forward 35 years and Rovos Rail not only has its own private railway station and headquarters in Pretoria but also houses its own six train sets, steam locomotives as well as its own fleet of diesel, electric and combination locomotive units. The company now offers 11 journeys ranging from three to 15 days with trains that traverse South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Namibia.

At the tender age of 78, Rohan is not slowing down. Operating trains across Southern Africa certainly keeps you on your toes as does his family which is made up of mostly women – it seems to be Rohan’s fortunate lot in life to be surrounded by independent ladies who are not afraid to put him in his place or throw the occasional eye roll his way.

Rohan also likes to keep active and fit so on Saturday mornings one might spot him and his pack of dogs hiking the mountain ranges of Cape Town. Or you might see him in his plaid shirt and oversized sun hat on the golf course on a Sunday. And if you’re really “lucky”, you might see him atop his bicycle, clad in all his glorious spandex, tackling the steep hills and undulating curves of the Cape.

In fact, this Sunday, Rohan will once again participate in the Cape Town Cycle Tour where he will aim for another personal best by cycling it in under four hours. And after he has cycled 109kms, he will be attending his granddaughter’s fourth birthday party where he will undoubtedly be tackled by his grandchildren but where he will also finally get some birthday cake.

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